Overview

Last Update: April 2013

• Implement coordination of research and management between Peru and Chile; define limit and target reference points and a recovery plan in both countries
   
• Improve the robustness of fisheries science common approach
   
• Establish limits for anchovy harvest by the Peruvian artisanal fleet and strict controls to avoid deviation from direct human consumption to fishmeal factories
   
• Enforce the 5-mile exclusion zone for the industrial fleet in both countries as a precautionary approach, while scientific and consensual research demonstrates possibilities for another less precautionary approach

1. The three southern Peru regions involved in this fishery have ceased to allow industrial boats into the artisanal protection zone (waters from 0 to 5 miles off the coast).
    
2. In the south of Peru, illegal and unreported fishing by so-called artisanal boats (in fact, small-scale purse-seiners) is a main issue because their harvest is illegally diverted to fishmeal factories.
    
3. In the north of Chile, there is bycatch of juvenile Chilean jack mackerel that seems to go unreported.
    
4. More effort should be made to get information on populations of guano bird “Guanay,” green turtles, and the Burmeister porpoise as emblematic, vulnerable species representing the ecosystem impacted directly and indirectly by the anchovy fishery.
    
5. There is a lack of coordination between Chilean and Peruvian fisheries authorities.

• Improve the robustness of fisheries science common approach
   
• Implement coordinated management measures following scientific recommendations
   
• Establish limits for anchovy harvest by the Peruvian artisanal fleet and strict controls to avoid deviation from direct human consumption to fishmeal factories
   
• Enforce the 5-mile exclusion zone for the industrial fleet in both countries as a precautionary approach while scientific and consensual research demonstrates possibilities for another less precautionary approach
   
• Coordinate efforts to understand direct and indirect impacts on the components of the ecosystem and manage them adequately.

• Since the second half of 2009, TACs have been established in Peru for the first time, together with an IQ system.

• Since June 2010, effort limit has been established in Peru in regard to the artisanal fleet.

• In October 2011, the Peruvian government abrogated the rule that allowed the industrial fleet to penetrate into the artisanal 5-mile zone.
   
• In the second half of 2011, Moquegua Region authorities abrogated the so-called “Regional Food Support Program” (in Spanish, PAAR). Under this umbrella, some small-scale purse-seiners deviated anchovy harvests from direct human consumption to fishmeal factories, violating specific rules about that.
   
• A GEF project encouraged by the UNDP and involving both governments (Humboldt Current Project) includes joint research and coordinated management for this stock of anchovy as one of the main goals to be achieved. This is coincident with one of the key FIP objectives.

• While Peru set a 400,000-tonne TAC for the first semester of 2012, Chile established a year-round TAC of 800,000 tonnes. These TACs did not seem to be aligned with a recovery goal.
   
• From January to June 2012, in the southern region of Peru, 300,000 tonnes of anchovy were landed, 20% less than during the same period in 2011. The incidence of juveniles in the catches was 3-4% (according to IMARPE´s report).

• Following the recommendation of IMARPE, in July 2012 PRODUCE established a TAC of 307,000 tonnes for the second season of 2012 (August-December).
   
• In August 2012, PRODUCE established the criterion for categorizing fishing vessels in the anchovy fishery directed at human consumption, designating those vessels as either artisanal or smaller-scale. In addition, PRODUCE determines reserve areas for the activities of the artisanal and small-scale fleets.

• In November 2012, the assessment survey conducted by IMARPE revealed an anchovy biomass in the southern region around 2 million tonnes, and recommended a TAC between 400 thousand and 450 thousand tonnes, including all kinds of fishing fleets. For Chile, the estimation was 2.3 million tonnes and the TAC was 800 thousand tonnes.
   
• At the same time, CeDePesca sent to PRODUCE and made public a statement about the anchovy fishery, which analyzes the state of the anchovy population reported by IMARPE, the official information of anchovy catches, production and commercialization of fishmeal in the last 5 years, and the potential extraction of the smaller-scale fleet that would operate under the Supreme Decree 005-2012-PRODUCE. The statement also included, among others, fishery management recommendations aimed at discouraging discards in fishing operations, improving the on-board observer program, accelerating the closure of marine areas with a high presence of juvenile specimens, and setting a limit of allowable catch and ITQ system for artisanal and smaller-scale fleets (14 November 14 2012).
   
• In December 2012, PRODUCE established the Supreme Decree 008-2012-PRODUCE, which introduces some improvements in fisheries management, some of which were recommendations made by CeDePesca on the statement of anchovy fishery delivered in November.
   
• From January to December 2012, in the southern region of Peru, 357,000 tonnes of anchovy were landed, 50% less than during the same period in 2011. In Chile, 2012 landings accounted for 650 thousand tonnes, 37% less than for 2011.
   
• Following the recommendation of IMARPE, in December 2012 PRODUCE established a TAC of 400,000 tonnes for the first season of 2013 (January–June). This fishing quota is applicable only to the larger-scale fleet, the industrial fleet. In Chile, the National Fisheries Council established a TAC of 800,000 tonnes, following the recommendation of SUBPESCA.

• No recent substantive developments to report.
   
• Efforts to encourage industry participation continue.